January 6, 1924 ~ January 13, 2016
Our eternally smiling Pinky, Smoke, Pancake Queen, Nanny and most important of all Mom, got her angel wings January 13, 2016, just days after her 92nd birthday.
Born in Paisley, Ontario on January 6, 1924, she soon learned the love of travel as her family searched for a warmer climate. At the very young age of 16 she joined the reserves and at 18 enlisted in the army. Discharged two years later due to a pregnancy, she soon rejoined the reserves where she remained until 1953 when she wed her husband of 62 years, “Nick”. She welcomed 5 children into the world: Anne, Heather, Bruce, Lorna and Cheryl.
Those nicknames, they deserve some explanation. Pinky for her love of all things pink, or any colour really. Smoke: for the many campfires she sat around as Snowy Owl for the Girl Guides or just on family camping trips, seemed the smoke always found its way to her. Pancake Queen, she was that! Every weekend the table would overflow with family and friends as she whipped up batch after batch of her famous flapjacks. It is a recipe that we can never replicate. Nanny: a loving grandmother to Lori, Jodi, Jake, Erin, and Kelsey. Lastly Mom, no explanation needed.
Pinky loved to travel and she waited for no one, often booking trips and venturing to lands far away all by herself. When she wasn’t travelling she was reading and learning, there was always something she needed to know. She was never rushed and loved to say “I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it”. She crossed many bridges in her long life and I am sure you all saw the bright flash of her ever present smile, reflected in the night stars, along with a wash of pink in the sky as she crossed her final bridge.
Special thanks to Ruth’s long time doctor, Dr Konway, and the staff at Eagle View for their care and compassion.
We will miss you Pinky